MemorandumTo: The GeneralFrom: We the Corvette-Loving Peoples Of The WorldRe: Occasion of Corvette Racing’s 100th Race (and 72nd Win)Congratulations to Corvette Racing are in order for: the occasion of their 100th American Le Mans Series (ALMS) race--and their 72nd win in that series.
The #4 C6.R, driven by Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta, scored its second GT1 win of the ’08 ALMS season, and first since the season opener St. Petersburg, at the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix over Labor Day Weekend. Teammates Johnny O’Connell and Jan Magnussen, in the #3 Corvette C6.R, placed second.Think about that stat for a moment. 72 wins in 100 races. What does that tell you about Corvette Racing? Is it a “steam roller” that wins by spending “cubic money,” as Enzo Ferrari complained about the Blue Oval guys’ Le Mans prototypes during the 1960s? No. In fact, it’s all about a motivated team of professionals—especially its engineers, mechanics and drivers—that are thriving, thanks to the Ultimate Secret of Management:“Get the best people for the job, give them the best resources, and let them have at it.”Those of you under The General’s command by the shores of the Detroit River should know that secret. Not only as it applies to the current Corvette Racing effort, but also the design, engineering and assembly of the production Corvette. Because it is precisely that secret, as applied by several generations of management, that has not only kept Corvette in production, but also a very visible (and profitable) product for the company.That’s likely why Corvette sales, as well as visits to Chevy’s dealers and website visits by prospective Corvette customers, tend to increase following a Vette win in ALMS. That’s thanks to the Ultimate Secret of Selling Corvettes:
“Win On Sunday, Sell On Monday.”